Desktop Pcs Buying Guide

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Desktop PCs Buying Guide Contents The PC Processor • Intel processors • AMD processors • Dual processors and dual-core processors • Hyper-threading The Motherboard • Motherboards for AMD and Intel • The motherboard chipset • Motherboard slots • Motherboards with built-in sound and graphics Interfaces • Universal Serial Bus • FireWire • S/PDIF (Sony/Phillips Digital Interface) • Headphones • Microphone • Line In • Parallel • Serial • PS/2 • Memory Graphics controller • Onboard graphic controllers • Which graphic chipset? • AGP • PCI Express • What is RAMDAC? • Which memory? Hard drive • What sizes do hard drives come in? • What are the hard drive interfaces? • Serial ATA PC case • Forming attachments Monitors • What sizes do CRT monitors come in? • Resolution size • What are flat panel displays? • Response Times • What is DVI? • Reasons for buying a flat-panel monitor • Reasons for sticking with a CRT monitor uying a PC can be a tricky and finicky experience. Even for seasoned PC veterans it can be hard to keep abreast of the latest technologies. With the constant influx of new interface technologies, faster processors, bigger and better RAM and increasing hard drive sizes, it’s a hard decision to know when to upgrade to a new model or invest in that second PC. As well as ensuring you know exactly what you are talking about and what you need to ask when you go to shop online or in a retail store, this guide will also help you to keep your purchase costs down so you don’t spend any more money than you need to. It’s worth pointing out that how much you do spend on your PC depends on what you want to do with it. There is no need to buy a souped-up computer with a massive hard drive and a powerful graphics card or processor, if all you want to do is maintain the finances for your small business. Alternatively, if you wish to use your PC to edit your digital videos, store lots of digital images or download massive files from the Internet, then buying a PC with all of these attributes makes sense. Sound cards • Sound card interfaces • Dolby Digital • Speakers Systems Media Centre PCs BUYERS DESKTOPDESKTOP PC BUYERS GUIDEGUIDE 1 AUSTRALIAN PC WORLD AUSTRALIAN PC| WORLD |1 BUYERSGUIDE The PC processor At the heart of your PC lies the central processing unit, a key determinant of the performance of your system. Street prices of processors can range from $170 for a budget processor to over $1600 for a top-of-the-line processor. In the past, the speed of a processor was indicated by what is called it’s clock speed, which is measured in gigahertz (GHz) -- 1000MHz equals 1GHz. The clock speed appeared in the naming of the processor: Pentium4 2.2GHz, for example. Most of today’s new CPUs, however, are given abstract model numbers that give no indication of the clock speed and are used to determine the speed of the processor relative to other processors. An Intel Pentium D 830 is better than an Intel Pentium D 820, for example, although the model name does not tell us by how much. It may have a faster clock speed, a bigger cache or some other advantage over the 820. AMD uses a somewhat different method to describe its CPUs. It describes them based on their performance relative to an Intel CPU (Intel being the dominant market player). The processors you will most likely encounter in desktop PCs are the Intel Pentium 4 5xx, 6xx and 8xx, and the AMD Athlon 64 and Athlon 64 X2. These two series of processors represent the performance end of the market; while AMD’s Sempron and Intel’s Celeron processors are targeted a budget-conscious buyers. Here’s a brief breakdown of the processors on the market: Intel processors Last year, Intel changed its processor number scheme, abandoning the MHz rating in lieu of an abstract model numbering scheme. Now Intel processors are arranged in families, such as the 3xx (Celeron), 5xx (Pentium 4), 6xx (Pentium 4 EM64T) and 8xx (Pentium 4 dual-core) families. Within a given family, the higher the number, the faster the processor; for instance the Pentium 4 630 runs at 3.0GHz, while the Pentium 4 660 runs at 3.6GHz. If you find the new numbering scheme confusing, don’t worry – most sellers will be more than happy to tell you the speed of any processor they are selling. Intel has a chart that breaks down the processor numbers on its web site: (http://www.intel.com/products/processor_number/info.htm). The four main families of Intel desktop consumer processors break down as follows: • The Celeron (3xx) processors are entry-level CPUs, designed for low-cost systems. They don’t have as much internal memory (“L2 cache”) as other Intel CPUs. • The Pentium 4 (5xx) processors are the mid-range processors. They are faster, on a clock for clock basis, than Celerons, but mostly lack 64-bit extensions. If the last digit is a “1”, such as in the Pentium 541, it means the processor actually does have 64-bit extensions. • The Pentium 4 EM64T (6xx) processors have 64-bit extensions, similar to those found in the AMD Athlon 64. They’re best used with the new 64-bit version of Windows XP, which can make the most of their extra power. • The new Pentium 4 dual-core (8xx) range essentially has two 6xx processors on a single packaged chip, effectively making the system a dual-processor system (even though it only has “one” CPU). The Pentium 4 dual-core processors require a motherboard with a supporting chipset, such as the Intel 945/955X chipsets. All these current Intel processors fit into LGA755 motherboards,  | Australian PC World  | Australian PC World although you will need a supporting chipset if you plan to install an 8xx processor. AMD processors In its consumer line of products, AMD has boiled its vast collection of different products down into three core models: the Sempron, the Athlon 64 and the Athlon 64 X2. You may still see the rare Athlon XP around, but we recommend avoiding them. AMD has an unusual naming scheme, basing its product names, not on the actual MHz rating of the processor, but on the MHz rating of an Intel processor of equivalent speed. For instance, the Athlon 64 3000+ only runs at 2160MHz, but because it is as fast as a 3000MHz Intel Pentium 4 (because of improved processing efficiency), AMD call it the Athlon 64 3000+. This is done to reduce confusion for buyers deciding whether to buy Intel or AMD. And if you’re worried that AMD are highballing their comparative speeds, don’t be – if anything, the AMD processor speed equivalents are conservative. As an added bonus, the naming scheme aligns the AMD processors, making it easier to choose between different types of AMD processors (for instance, it makes it easier to decide whether to buy Sempron or Athlon 64, because both processors are rated on the same scale). • • • The Sempron is AMD’s answer to the Intel Celeron. It’s a very lowcost processor based on the Athlon XP. It lacks 64-bit extensions. It fits in a Socket 754 motherboard. The Athlon 64 is AMD’s mainstream and high-end processor. It has 64-bit extensions (which require a 64-bit version on Windows to get the most out of them). Some use 754-pin sockets, others 939. Check which you have before buying your motherboard. The Athlon 64 X2 is a dual-core processor, integrating two Athlon 64 CPUs on a single piece of silicon, effectively making it a dualprocessor system on a chip. Unlike the Intel dual-core solution, the X2 does not require a special chipset, and should run on any Socket 939 motherboard (although many motherboards will require a software “BIOS” upgrade). Dual processors and dual-core processors Dual-processor motherboards are usually only found in server setups and high-end desktop PCs that use the functionality for intense graphics CAD and design work. Therefore, dual-processor boards aren’t really applicable to the consumer desktop PC market. However, the recent introduction of dual-core processors by both Intel and AMD is bringing multiprocessing to the masses. A dual-processor system is exactly what the name implies – a system desktop BUYERS DESKTOP PC GUIDE BUYERS GUIDE  with two processors. You need a motherboard with two processor sockets to make this work (and such motherboards tend to be expensive). A dual-core processor is a little different, however. A dual-core processor is a single chip that has multiple processing “cores” on it. It will appear to the operating system as two processors, act the way two processors would act and have the same kinds of advantages as a dual-processor system has. It is only one chip, however, and only requires a single standard socket on the motherboard. AMD’s Athlon 64 X2 (which has the memory controller on the chip), should work in any Socket 939 motherboard, although most require a BIOS upgrade. Intel 8xx dual-core processors (which leave memory control to the motherboard’s chipset) require a supporting motherboard. By next year, both Intel and AMD expect that the bulk of processors shipped will be dual-core models. Hyper-Threading Hyper-Threading technology is now found in most P4 2.8GHz (and faster) chips, but was initially introduced to desktop PCs through the newer P4 3GHz in early 2003. Hyper-Theading is a technology developed by Intel to improve the performance of the processor by increasing its efficiency. It does this by pretending that it’s two processors instead of one, so the operating system throws more work at it. It’s not to be confused with dual-core processor however – a Hyper-Threading processor still only has one core; it’s just pretending that it has two. Some Intel processors are both Hyper-Threading and dual core, and will appear to the operating system as four processors. The Motherboard The motherboard tends to be overlooked when purchasing new individual components or a PC package as a whole. Most people first check the processor and its clock speed, then the size of the hard drive, and perhaps check which graphics controller is lurking inside. Considering the motherboard is essentially the backbone of your PC, attention should be paid to this component as it will shape the longevity of your PC system. If you’re unsure what a motherboard looks like, a quick peek inside your PC will set you straight. It will invariably be the biggest single item in there. It not only plays home to your processor and memory, but all your expansion cards: your graphics card, your hard drive and CD-ROM connectors, plus external ports. The motherboard also houses the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) that controls the simplest configuration of your machine. pcworld.idg.com.au The BIOS also performs the POST (Power-On Self Test) health check. This is a diagnostic testing sequence that begins when the PCs power is turned on. If the components are configured correctly, the PC will continue booting into the operating system. Motherboards for AMD and Intel A motherboard, in almost all circumstances, will only support one type of processor, such as Intel’s Pentium 4, or AMD’s Athlon64. Different chips have connectors that vary physically from one another. It ensures that you can’t plug the wrong chip into the wrong board by accident. The motherboard chipset The second way in which motherboards differ is in the chipset they use. If you think of the motherboard as the physical hardware, the chipset is the logic that underlies it. It is the part that dictates how different components actually talk to one another and controls the features and abilities of the motherboard. Processor development and chipset design go hand in hand -- so much so that the chipset is built to support the facilities offered by a certain processor. There are a number of chipset vendors on the market, with the five main companies being Intel, AMD, VIA, NVIDIA and SiS. Intel and AMD only produce chipsets for their own processors, while VIA, NVIDIA and SiS make chipsets for both companies. Chipset manufacturers have produced a large range of chipsets, based on a variety of north bridge and south bridge types. The most recent, and most advanced, releases for Intel processors are the Intel 945/955X chipset (which support the dual-core processors), the NVIDIA nForce4, the SiS655 and the Via PT894. For AMD motherboards, look for recent chipsets including the NVIDIA nForce4, the SiS761 and the Via K8T890. In the table below, we’ve included a list of many chipsets you might see appear in motherboards right now. Motherboard slots Although some motherboards support different features, several key components are present on all current models. Each will be designed to take either a socket or contact-based processor and there will be memory module slots for either DDR SDRAM or DDR2 SDRAM. There will also be expansion slots so you can add extras like sound and graphics cards; support for the hard and DVD+/-RW drives; and, finally, connectors for keyboard, mouse and peripherals. Motherboards with built-in sound and graphics It’s also quite common for motherboards to have some built-in basic sound or graphic capabilities. Take note: integrated graphics obviate the need for a separate graphics card, but generally offer poor 3D games performance in comparison. This is because integrated graphics use system RAM to run, which takes away from overall system performance. MoTHERBOARD CHIPSETS For Intel Processors For AMD Processors AMD None AMD-8151, AMD-8132, AMD-8131, AMD-8111 Intel Intel 955X Express, Intel 925X/XE Express, Intel 915G/ None GV/GL/PL/P, Intel 875P, Intel 910GL, Intel 865G NVIDIA nForce4 nForce2, nForce3, nForce4, nForce Professional SiS SiS649, SiS656, SiS655TX, SiS655FX, SiS648FX SiS761GX, SiS756, SiS755FX, SiS755, SiS760GX Via VIA PT880 Pro, VIA PT894, VIA PT894 Pro VIA K8T890, VIA K8T800 Pro, VIA K8N800A BUYERS GUIDE DESKTOPDesktop PC BUYERS GUIDE  Australian PC World Australian PC| World | BUYERSGUIDE Integrated audio, on the other hand, is often quite good, with some sound chips handling digital output for up to eight channels. If you only want to use office applications, then an onboard graphics chip should suffice; die-hard gamers, on the other hand, should install a dedicated card. For more on motherboards you might like to read our motherboard buying guide. Interfaces Universal Serial Bus Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a standard for connecting peripheral devices to a computer. It was designed to replace PS/2, serial and parallel connections (which still appear in many motherboards). The first incarnation of USB, version 1.1 operates at up to 12Mbps (which means the peripherals can talk to the computer, and visa versa, at 12Mbps), while the newer USB 2.0 delivers up to 480Mbps. With USB, you can often connect one device to another in a “daisy-chain”. Thus, a mouse can connect to a keyboard instead of plugging into the back of the computer. And that keyboard can connect to a USB port in the monitor. If you need more USB ports, just connect a USB hub and in theory, up to 127 USB devices can be interconnected. Low-power USB devices can sometimes be powered directly from the PC’s power source via the USB connection, but only when the device draws less than 5V. You would expect to see at least four USB ports on the rear faceplate of a motherboard but latest release motherboards have up to six ports, with two located on the front of the case. FireWire IEEE 1394, which is commonly referred to as FireWire (but also as i.Link by Sony), is used to connect devices such as digital video cameras to your personal computer at a speed of 400Mbps. FireWire supports up to 63 devices on a single bus. A newer version of FireWire is referred to as IEEE 1394b. The architecture of the new specification technically supports speeds up to 3.2Gbps, but initial implementations only work at 800Mbps. However, the biggest change for FireWire may not be the doubling of speed, but the range provided by the specification. The current version of FireWire works at a distance of 12-15 metres. The “b” spec will increases that distance up to 115 metres. S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) Developed jointly by the Sony and Phillips corporations, S/PDIF allows the transfer of digital audio signals from one device to another without having to be converted first to an analog format. Headphones A port for a 3.2mm audio jack, usually green, is used to connect external headphones. Though it is usually located on the motherboard, some PC cases may have a pass-thru cable with an additional connection on the front. Microphone Similar to the headphone jack, this is a (usually pink) 3.2mm audio port to connect external microphones. Pass-thru cables are also used here for connection at the front of the PC.  | Australian PC World  | Australian PC World Line-in A connection that is used to input an audio signal into your PC. For example, you can connect your stereo’s CD player to it and listen to it through your PC. Simply connect an audio lead from your CD player through to the sound card and output the audio to a set of 5.1 speakers connected to your PC. Parallel A 25-pin data transfer port used predominantly for connecting printers. Serial Game controllers and older-style dial-up modems would normally use this type of 9-pin connection. PS/2 Typically used for connecting a mouse and keyboard. Easy to identify, these 6-pin ports are often coloured green for mice, purple for keyboard. Memory Random Access Memory (RAM) is the term used to describe memory found on PCs or graphics controllers (more on this later). Memory is incorporated into a desktop PC via memory modules, which connect through dedicated memory slots on the motherboard. The most commonly used type of RAM in PCs is Double Data Rate (DDR) SDRAM. Single Data Rate (SDR) SDRAM is still available for older systems but becoming increasingly rare. SDRAM also differs in the physical sense, SDRAM DIMMs will not physically fit into a DDR RAM slot and vice versa. Both are implemented into the system as DIMMs (Dual Inline Memory Modules). DDR memory will always give your system or graphics card better performance than SDR memory. This is because DDR sends two data bits on every clock pulse. DDR2 memory gives improved speeds and heat spreaders to keep the memory cool. DIMMs come in different flavours -- PC100 and PC133 for SDRAM, and PC2100, PC2700, PC3200, PC4000, PC4400 for DDR SDRAM. DDR2 RAM is also available from PC3200 up to PC6400. The numbers relate to the speed at which the memory modules can operate (although the DDR numbers use a different measuring system, so it is impossible to compare the two types of memory through listed speeds alone). Your motherboard must support the type of memory you want to use. Currently only some Intel boards use DDR2. Graphics controller Graphics controllers are the devices that connect to and tell monitors what to display. They also take over many of the processing tasks associated with rendering and displaying 2-D and 3-D graphics. By taking over many display-related tasks from the CPU, the graphics controller allows the CPU to focus on other tasks without affecting overall system performance. They vary considerably in price and capabilities. You can pay as little as $50 for one, or over $1000. desktop BUYERS DESKTOP PC GUIDE BUYERS GUIDE  Onboard graphic controllers Not every PC you buy will have a dedicated graphics controller. You will generally find that in small form factor PCs -- that is, physically smaller systems -- there is not enough space to have a dedicated graphics controller. The normal practice in such a case is to integrate sound and graphics on the motherboard. The end result may be a PC that will only do a portion of the graphical things a PC equipped with the top-of-the-range graphics controller can do. However, it is also important to note that a regular ATX PC (see “PC Cases” below) can come with this cut-down graphics component. Once again, you will most likely see this on budget PCs. The quickest way to know is to ask the retailer if it has a separate graphics controller or one integrated on the motherboard. Which graphic chipset? Although a large number of manufacturers build graphics cards for PCs, nearly all of them use components from one of two major developers of graphics card chips: NVIDIA and ATI. Cards based on identical graphics chips will be nearly indistinguishable in terms of performance. Matrox is another well-known brand used by video, 2-D and 3-D graphics professionals. A new player, XGI, is also gaining popularity amongst gamers. NVIDIA produces graphics controller chips with the GeForce brand. These are divided up into graphics controllers for the budget, mainstream or the higher-end/gaming enthusiasts markets. The latest range of GeForce graphics chips is the 6xxx series, which is now available in a 6800 version for enthusiasts, or in a 6600 version for mainstream systems. There’s also a range of chips in the 6200 series for the budget-conscious. Although the grades of graphics controllers vary, it is quite normal to find features such as TV-out or S-Video on mainstream controllers, without having to pay more for the high-end controllers. For example, consumers can pick up an AGP-based 6600 graphics controller with TV-out and a DVI port, for a little over $200. In comparison, the top of the range PCIe-based 6800 controller will set you back around $650, or $520 for an AGP model. The lower-end chips, however, will run slower and may not have the cooling or heat sink features which have been incorporated into the higher-end controllers. The current range of ATI graphics chips are branded under the Radeon name. Common Radeon chips include the X600 and X700; the X300 for the budget buyer, and higher-end users can keep an eye out for chips based on the X850. Prices may vary from $100 for the X300 Radeon to between $160 and $350 for the X600 and X700. The Radeon X850 is bit more expensive, with prices close to the $800 mark so it’s best to have an idea of just how demanding your system requirements are before deciding on the more expensive option. • • pcworld.idg.com.au AGP 4x (266MHz; 1.02GBps). AGP 8x (533MHz; 2.1GGBps). Although the capacity of the AGP port will be determined by the main board, it is worth pointing out that graphics cards support certain AGP standards. This means that if you purchase a graphics cards separately to your system, you will need to check the main board is equipped to handle the AGP mode the graphics card works at. PCI Express PCI Express or PCIe was ratified in late 2002 to overcome the limitations of AGP. The new interface has a higher bandwidth throughput, lower pin count and lower latency, making it overall the superior choice for graphics. PCIe types can be broken down into four different modes: • PCIe 1x mode (500MB/s) uses a single data lane -- both directions • PCIe 4x mode (1000MB/s) uses a double data lane -- both directions • PCIe 8x mode (4000MB/s) uses a quadruple data lane -- both directions. • PCIe 16x mode (8000MB/s) uses 4000MB/s per directions. Nearly all graphics cards are of the PCIe 16x variety. A lot of the latest release motherboards feature PCIe slots and are physically incompatible with AGP cards. If you are looking to upgrade to PCIe for improved graphics, don’t go and sell your soul just yet. A lot of the games still perform exceptionally well with an AGP-based card but if you’re after some serious pixel pushing power, PCIe may be worth investigating. What is RAMDAC? You may come across the term RAMDAC in your shopping. This is an acronym for Random Access Memory Digital-to-Analog Converter. RAMDAC is a chip on graphics controller cards and its role is to convert digitally encoded images into analog signals that can be displayed by a monitor. RAMDAC speed is a frequency at which the RAMDAC processes the pixels and sends the video signals to the monitor via the VGA connector. Speeds to look out for include a range from 270MHz up to 360MHz. The higher your screen resolution, the higher the RAMDAC speed. Which memory? Video cards also contain onboard RAM, which is used as a working space for the graphics operations. The two graphics memory types you are likely to encounter Single Data Rate (SDRAM) and Double Data Rate (DDRAM) memory. Some of the newer cards also feature DDR2 or graphics DDR (GDDR). A powerful graphics card will have 256Mb of memory. Low-end cards normally have less RAM, usually of the DDR variety. Which interfaces do I look out for? Hard drive There are two kinds of interfaces in the motherboard used to connect graphics cards: AGP and PCIe. Whatever graphics card you buy, it must match the slot in the motherboard. The hard drive on your PC is a storage device, sort of like a digital briefcase where you keep all your important data. It works by rapidly recording data with magnetic pulses on spinning metal platters. The more quickly a drive spins, the quicker you can access and transfer data. Hard drives come in a number of sizes, but 3.5in is by the far the most common type for PC computers. Most computer cases are designed to fit 3.5in drives. The drive contains a motor that spins the platters at speeds from 5400 revolutions per minute (rpm) to 15,000rpm. Aim for a hard drive with a rotational speed of 7200rpm in preference to the older-standard 5400rpm models. This will offer the best price/performance balance. AGP The AGP bus is a dedicated graphics connection used only by an AGP graphics controller. AGP works in various modes. Not all motherboards support all modes. • AGP 1x mode (which has a speed of 66MHz and data transfer of 264MBps) is twice as fast as that of PCI (33MHz; 132MBps). • AGP 2x mode (133MHz; 528MBps) is four times faster than PCI. BUYERS GUIDE DESKTOPDesktop PC BUYERS GUIDE  Australian PC World Australian PC| World | BUYERSGUIDE What sizes do hard drives come in? The minimum size your hard drive will come in these days has risen significantly over the past 12 months, and consumers should be able to find a sub-$1000 desktop PC with 60GB-200GB of hard disk drive space. Drives with up to 500GB are available, but you pay a significant premium for this top-end capacity. If you plan on storing large amounts of data on your hard drive, such as digital images or multimedia files, then the bigger the hard drive, the better. As an example, we’ve used an 80GB hard drive to illustrate the amount of storage space you’ll need to house the following files: • Depending on various quality and file format settings used, one minute of near CD-quality music will use around about 1MB of memory. This means that a 5GB player could hold roughly 1000 five-minute songs. Therefore 4000 songs in MP3 format: 20GB • Three PC games (such as Unreal Tournament II, at 3GB each): 9GB • Two hours of DV footage: 25.60GB • Four hours of recorded TV shows: 4GB • Windows XP: 1.5GB • Two years of stored Outlook e-mail messages for a heavy user: 4GB • 11 applications, including Office XP Professional, Norton AntiVirus and Adobe Photoshop: 1.88GB • 1500 JPEG photos (1600x1200 each): 1.41GB • Hundreds of Excel spreadsheets, Word documents and Acrobat files: 1.08GB • FREE SPACE REMAINING: 11.55GB What are the hard drive interfaces? The drive interface is the “language” a drive uses to communicate with a PC. The two main types of PC hard drive interfaces are the ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment), also known as the IDE interface, and SATA. SCSI (pronounced “skuzzy”) is also available, but less common The ATA and SCSI interfaces have evolved to include many subtypes, which may or may not be backwards compatible. SCSI disk drives are expensive, require expensive controller cards and typically are only used on high-end workstations and servers. Virtually every PC motherboard has a built-in IDE hard disk controller, which has two connectors called a Primary and Secondary channel. Each channel can support one or two IDE drives, making a total of four possible drives. These could include hard disks, CD/DVD drives, CD writers, or a Zip drive. The original ATA interface supported a maximum transfer rate of 8.3MBps (megabytes per sec). The last three evolutions allow up to 33, 66, 100 or 133MBps to be transferred. Today, these numbers are often prefaced with the word Ultra-DMA or UDMA (ultra direct memory access). Ultra-DMA is also known as Ultra-ATA or EIDE, and typically will be advertised as Ultra ATA/33, UltraATA/66, Ultra ATA/100 and now UltraATA/133. Serial ATA More recent and more advanced than IDE, serial ATA, or SATA, was designed to replace parallel ATA (IDE). Users will benefit from SATA by being able to easily upgrade their storage devices, while configuration of SATA devices will be much simpler as jumper and settings are no longer needed. SATA hard disk drives will work with current operating systems and are software compatible with parallel ATA. Many existing motherboards support both SATA and PATA. Older motherboards may only support IDE.  | Australian PC World  | Australian PC World The biggest benefit of SATA is its increased data transfer rates. While the fastest performing parallel ATA drives offer data transfer speeds of 133MHz, SATA operates with a data transfer speed of 150MHz. SATA drives also take up less room within the PC case due to smaller cabling (making them great for use within compact systems). Although prices for SATA drives were initially higher than parallel ATA drives, there is now little difference in price between the two technologies. PC case A good case can simplify the task of upgrading or servicing components -- as well as making your office environment that much more pleasant. A welldesigned case will offer tool-less access to the interior, will have hard drives mounted on easy slide-out trays, and use colour-coded cables for internal and external parts. Since motherboards come in different shapes and sizes, commonly known as a form factor, so do case designs. The most common form factor is ATX. The ATX specification not only dictates where the connectors on the back of the motherboard should be (to line up with the holes in the case), but also encompasses details such as the power supply connector. There are variations on form factors -- for example, MicroATX takes the basic ATX specification, but has fewer expansion slots to allow for smaller cases. Other motherboard formats exist. AT was the de facto standard before ATX, and NLX is used to create slimline PCs. A new size to emerge and designed to replace the ATX standard is BTX. Intel was the driving force behind this new form factor and features some radical design changes to increase cooling. Similar to the ATX variations, there are also different form factors for the BTX range such as picoBTX and microBTX. Forming attachments External connectors for sound as well as serial, parallel and USB (universal serial bus) ports are now attached directly to most ATX motherboards, which makes them far easier to install than did the previous AT form factor (where most of the connectors attached to the motherboard via cables). Monitors When PC manufacturers want to shave the dollars off the price of a PC, the monitor is often the first area they address. Customers generally choose a system based on hardware specifications such as processor speed and graphics card, paying little attention to the monitor other than to note its size. This is a short-sighted approach. Since you interact with your screen more than any other part of your computer, you will soon regret any decision to opt for a poor quality display. Monitor technology does not move on as quickly as that of other PC components, so the screen is unlikely to become obsolete. There are two main monitor types that you will come across when purchasing your PC, a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid crystal display (LCD). They not only differ greatly in size and features but also in aesthetics. A CRT monitor is an analog display that produces images by illuminating phosphors with an electron beam. CRT monitors of late are being overtaken in the market by the LCDs. desktop BUYERS DESKTOP PC GUIDE BUYERS GUIDE  pcworld.idg.com.au What sizes do CRT monitors come in? Response Times The two common sizes are 17in and 19in. People wanting that extra viewing space can opt for the larger 21in or even 23in screen. The most popular size is 17in and is suitable for most PC users, given that it is the entry-level size. Older monitors, such as the 15in variety, are incapable of taking advantage of the resolutions supplied by even the most basic of the modern graphics controllers. If you choose a 17in monitor, you should make sure it supports a resolution of at least 1280x1024. Many manufacturers tout higher resolutions of up to 1600x1200, but these are not particularly usable on a 17in screen and users are often happier at a resolution of 1024x768. A larger 19in monitor is usable at higher resolutions, so make sure your screen supports a resolution of 1600x1200. You may have seen a reference in LCD monitor specifications to a term called response time and wondered what it was all about. Response times refer to the amount of time it takes for the crystals in the panel to move from an “on” to “off” state. With a higher a response time, the greater the blurring effect on bright moving images on black backgrounds. The lower the response time, the less of a blurring effect there will be on the screen. Gamers and graphics professionals tended to shy away from LCDs for this reason alone, but monitor manufacturers have recently begun releasing models with response times as low as 8ms (milliseconds) or 4ms. This can be a misleading statistic though and gives only a vague idea of the screen quality. Be sure to do your homework when selecting the right monitor for you. Resolution size The resolution of the monitor -- which also acts as a gauge for the amount of detail a display offers -- comes from the number of pixels (short for “picture elements”) and lines. For example, in a CRT monitor with a 1024x768 resolution, the beam lights up 1024 pixels as it passes horizontally from left to right. When it reaches the edge of the screen, it stops and moves down to the next line. The beam repeats this process until it has passed over the 768 lines of pixels on the screen. When the beam reaches the bottom, it returns to the top and begins again. A monitor with a 75Hz refresh rate completes this round-trip 75 times per second. However, 85Hz is ideal as it reduces the flickering you get from slow refreshing monitors. Most resolutions will provide a flicker-free picture when viewed at 75Hz and above. What are flat panel displays? The technology used in flat-panel displays is quite complex. A liquid crystal solution is held between two sheets of polarising material. An electric current is then passed through the liquid, which makes the crystals align and act as shutters, either allowing light to pass through or blocking it. TFT (thin film transistor) is the technology used in conjunction with LCD to generate colours for flat-panel displays. Flat-panel displays are slender and stylish and are becoming more affordable as new technologies emerge. For example, a basic 17in CRT costs around $200- $300, while a basic 17in LCD flatpanel monitor will set you back around $320 to $500. Some LCD models that cost that little bit extra may even come with integrated speakers, microphone/audio jacks, USB ports, TV Tuners and pivot functions that enable you to turn the whole display from a landscape aspect to portrait. Typically, flat-panel monitors come in sizes of 15in, 17in, 18in, 19in and 21in. The 15in models are slowly being phased out; 17in is now the entrylevel size. What is DVI? Most CRT monitors are analog, meaning that your graphics card has to convert digital data into an analog signal that can then be used by the monitor. Flat-panels are digital, so this analog signal then has to be converted back to a digital signal within the LCD monitor. This can cause setup problems and screen jitter. DVI (Digital Visual Interface) aims to overcome this problem by taking a digital signal straight from graphics card to monitor, ensuring that image quality is always clear and accurate. Reasons for buying a flat-panel monitor If you’ve got the cash to spend, the most appealing reason for buying a flat-panel monitor is space. You would be surprised how much desktop real estate is freed up by replacing a CRT with an LCD. Most models even feature brackets at the rear of the display to mount on a wall. They also use less electricity, emit less heat and radiation and weigh much less than CRT monitors. LCD screens also have better screen geometry. Screen geometry means that no matter where an image on your screen lies, it will look the same. In CRT monitors for example, when you view an image at the edge of the screen it can look a little distorted (for example, it may appear to be a little curved) compared to that same image sitting in the middle of the screen. Reasons for sticking with a CRT monitor LCD TFT devices offer excellent picture quality, eliminating some of the traditional image problems of CRTs, such as light refraction and geometric distortion. They also use less power and produce no radiation. But all these goodies come at a cost. CRT monitors are cheaper. Another advantage is that the viewable angle of the CRT monitor is much better than that of an LCD. TFT displays have slowly made inroads on this, though, and some of the latest models exhibit viewing angles on par with CRTs. Finding the right retailer Thinking of going the local route? Word-of-mouth advice is a good place to start. Follow these tips to help you home in on the best store. Do visit recommended stores in person -- just to chat. Ask to meet the owner and trust your gut feelings about how responsive the store will be. Do follow the 5/25 rule if you can -- choose a store that has been in business for at least five years and is located no more than 25km from your home or office. Do pursue multiple options. Compare prices, warranties and support hours. Do show the sale staff that you’ve done your homework on parts makers. If the store doesn’t stock the brand you want, ask whether staff can hunt the item down. BUYERS GUIDE DESKTOPDesktop PC BUYERS GUIDE Don’t choose a store that pressures you to buy “today” because of a massive sale. Don’t purchase from a store where the sales representatives try to talk over your head using technical jargon, or make you feel like you’re not worth their time. Don’t be impressed by “paper” technicians. Industry certification should not sell you on a store’s tech support staff. Instead, ask how long techs have served customers; the more years, the better.  Australian PC World Australian PC| World | BUYERSGUIDE To illustrate, if you stand in front of your CRT monitor (at 90 degrees to it) and start moving either left or right (even up or down), the image that you see on the screen will always be the same, regardless of the viewing angle. Do the same thing with an LCD screen, and as you get closer to the side of the display on some of the cheaper models, you will find the image just drops out, giving you a black screen. QUESTIONS TO ASK THE retailer Sound cards 2. Do you extend the warranty? At its most basic level, a sound card (also referred to as an audio card) is an expansion card that the PC utilises to read and play sound files. A sound card has four main functions: as a synthesiser (generating sounds), as a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI -- the standard that allows musicians to hook up instruments to sound cards), as an analog-to-digital converter (used, for example, in recording sounds from a turntable), and as a digital-to-analog converter (to reproduce sound for a speaker, for example). Almost all PCs are configured with sound cards as standard issue, but in some cases these will be two-channel stereo cards that are good for playback of two-channel CD music, MP3s, low-level PC gaming and not much else. Lately, though, some motherboards have shipped with on-board eight-channel audio, providing digital 7.1 sound reproduction capability. When buying a PC, the sound card you purchase will determine the quality of the sound you output. If you are going to be producing music on your PC, then a serious sound card with plenty of connectivity (for the MIDI interface), low latency and ASIO 2.0 driver support is required. This could cost $450 and above. Some high-end sound cards may even bundle an external breakout box, which provides extra connectivity and easy access to audio jacks. If, however, you want something that can just produce decent music output and can be used for gaming, then a card with fewer features and priced between $55 and $150 will probably do the job. Sound card interfaces Sound cards connect to your computer through the PCI slot. A PCI slot is a type of interconnection system, which allows peripheral devices such as sound cards, modems or TV tuner cards to communicate with the computer’s processor. Dolby Digital The latest sound cards include Dolby Digital 5.1 or 7.1 processing, which will give you true digital surround if you invest in a good PC surround speaker set or hook up your computer to your home theatre system. Be sure to get surround speakers that match your surround sound card channels (5.1, 6.1, etc) and connections. Speakers Systems A new sound card can be a waste unless you also upgrade your speakers. Most off-the-shelf PCs come with cheap-looking speakers that produce tinny, AM radio-like sound. Figure on spending $100 to $200 for a good quality set of speakers; the higher-priced systems include rear speakers and even a front and rear centre channel speaker for true 3-D sound (note: a subwoofer represents the “.1” in 5.1, 2.1 or 4.1 speaker systems). Regardless of which sound card you choose, note that your card and speakers must have matching digital connections, and note also that sometimes the Dolby Digital encoding within both can be handled differently by various manufacturers. If you plan to buy a card from one vendor and speakers from another, check with the vendors to be sure that their products can make sweet music together.  | Australian PC World  | Australian PC World 1. Do you provide delivery? Is it free? You may be surprised what responses you will get. Ask this before you hand over your money, to ensure you don’t pay extra. The longer the warranty period, the less chance you will need to incur additional costs should anything go wrong. 3. Do you provide after-hours support? PCs give you grief at all hours of the day. Not all retailers supply such a service. 4. Is the PC in stock? A $2000 PC today may well be worth $1500 in two months’ time. There is no point ordering (and paying for) a PC and then having to wait months for it to arrive, at which time you could buy it for less. 5. What operating system and software are included? Most desktop PCs and notebooks come with some flavour of Windows, with Windows XP Home or Professional now being the standard. Older, sell-out stock from your local retailer may still come with Windows 2000. You’ll be hard pressed to find Linux or other alternative operating systems pre-installed on any desktop or notebook PC. You may pick up some real bargains in bundled software, including utilities, productivity software (such as Microsoft Works or an office suite) and occasionally games or multimedia titles. 6. How can I tell if the software is legal? One of the biggest concerns with bundled software is whether you’re getting the genuine article. To help those wanting to know more about how to identify pirated software, Microsoft has established a licensing section on its Web site dedicated to protecting users from pirated copies of its software products. According to the Microsoft site, the best ways for you to confirm that the software you have been given with your PC or notebook is authentic, is to first check your end user license agreement (EULA). If you have purchased your PC from a retail outlet and have been given the software with it, check the Microsoft license pack and look for the certificate of authenticity (COA) on the box. For more information on these, check out the Microsoft Web Site. Media Centre PCs Introduced in the US back in 2002 and launched here in Australia late last year, Microsoft unveiled a new operating system titled Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. MCE is basically a version of Windows XP Home, but using an interface that allows PCs to become more effective home entertainment systems, complete with a TV/Radio tuner card and remote control. You can record and pause live TV (time shifting), watch DVDs or view video and photo files. Overseas, the uptake of MCE has been quite positive, but we’re yet to see the same type of response here in Australia. One of the contributing factors for MCEs slow rise is the omission of Electronic Program Guide (EPG); a cool feature that enables digital television users to search, filter and customise program listings and even control access to content. desktop BUYERS DESKTOP PC GUIDE BUYERS GUIDE KEY VIEW 3-D TOUR CLICK FOR MORE CLICK FOR FULL RANGE CLICK TO BUY NOW ThinkCentre® ThinkPad® ThinkPad® T43 WIDEN YOUR THINKING OCTOBER CATALOGUE 2005 HOT DOLLAR DEALS. Click here for great deals. THINKPAD® NOW IN WIDESCREEN. WIDESCREEN NOW IN SILVER. Choosing a ThinkPad notebook for your business has always been smart thinking. But now the new ThinkPad is even smarter looking. ThinkPad Z60t has a sleek titanium cover that comes in silver on select models. From Inside: Check out the ThinkPad R50e notebook for only $999*inc GST (RRP) just 2kg in weight and 2.8cm thin, it easily goes wherever your work takes you. And the 14” XGA widescreen makes it perfect for working with multiple applications or viewing large spreadsheets. Or perhaps watching the occasional movie? Of course, because it’s a ThinkPad, it still includes all the features you’d expect such as airbag-like technology, built-in security and a fingerprint reader to help keep your data safe and secure. It’s smarter, in every sense. The new ThinkPad Z60t is coming soon. Contact your reseller for details and stock availability. Check out the ThinkPad T43 notebook with Intel® Centrino™ Mobile Technology for only $3,049*inc GST (RRP) The ThinkPad and ThinkCentre® products featured in this catalogue are readily available, designed and priced to suit your budget. Click to locate your nearest Business Partner† ThinkPad is a product of Lenovo. KEY VIEW 3-D TOUR CLICK FOR MORE CLICK TO BUY NOW CLICK FOR FULL RANGE Feature page ThinkPad® ThinkPad® T43 THINKCENTRE® DESKTOPS 949* $ inc GST (RRP) Order codes: 8175KME (Desktop) + 6636AC1 (Monitor) 1,329* $ inc GST (RRP) Order Codes: 8424KMH (Desktop) + 6636AC1 (Monitor) 1,589* $ inc GST (RRP) Order Codes: 84243CM (Desktop) + 6636AC1 (Monitor) ThinkCentre® A50 Tower ThinkCentre A51 Small Form Factor ThinkCentre A51 Small Form Factor Stability at an affordable price. Space saving desktop at an affordable price. Space saving desktop with the latest technologies. SYSTEM FEATURES SYSTEM FEATURES SYSTEM FEATURES Intel® Celeron® Processor (2.66GHz, 256KB L2 cache, 533 MHz FSB) Windows® XP Professional5 256MB DDR SDRAM Memory1 40GB3 (7200rpm) Hard Drive CD-RW Drive (48X/32X/48X max)6 Integrated Intel® 10/100 Ethernet Integrated Intel® Extreme Graphics 2 ThinkVision™ L150 15” TFT Flat Panel Monitor 1 year limited warranty 8. L150 Monitor includes a 3 year limited warranty Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 519K (3.06GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 533MHz FSB) Windows® XP Professional5 512MB DDR 400MHz Memory1 80GB3 (7200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive CD-RW Drive (48X/32X/48X max)6 Integrated BroadCom® Gigabit Ethernet Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900 ThinkVision L150 15” TFT Flat Panel Monitor 1 year limited warranty 8. L150 Monitor includes a 3 year limited warranty Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 630 with HT Technology (3.0GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB) Windows® XP Professional5 512MB DDR 400MHz Memory1 80GB3 (7200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive Multiburner Plus drive Integrated BroadCom® Gigabit Ethernet Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900 ThinkVision L150 15” TFT Flat Panel Monitor 1 year limited warranty 8. L150 Monitor includes a 3 year limited warranty THINKVANTAGE® TECHNOLOGIES THINKVANTAGE TECHNOLOGIES THINKVANTAGE TECHNOLOGIES Rescue and Recovery™ Rescue and Recovery Embedded Security Subsystem Rescue and Recovery Embedded Security Subsystem VIEW ENTIRE THINKCENTRE® RANGE ~ UPGRADE YOUR SYSTEM Upgrade this system to Intel® Celeron® Processor 2.8 GHz and double your memory for only $130* extra inc GST (RRP). Total system price $1,079* inc GST (RRP). 1 $ * HOT DOLLAR DEAL ~ Double your memory # to 1GB for only $1* extra inc GST (RRP) (additional 512MB). Order code: 73P2686 1 $ ~ * HOT DOLLAR DEAL Double your memory # to 1GB for only $1* extra inc GST (RRP) (additional 512MB). Order code: 73P2686 Order Codes for upgraded system: 8175KMD + 6636AC1 UPGRADE YOUR MONITOR Swap your 15” TFT monitor that comes with the ThinkCentre models above to a 17” TFT monitor for only $70* inc GST (RRP). Order code: 6734AC1 VIEW ENTIRE MONITOR RANGE THINKVANTAGE TECHNOLOGIES TO GIVE YOU A BUSINESS ADVANTAGE When you get a ThinkPad notebook or ThinkCentre desktop, you’re getting ThinkVantage Technologies^ ... innovations that leave you wondering, “How did I get by without this?” And our competition murmuring, “How did they do that?” RESCUE AND RECOVERY EMBEDDED SECURITY SUBSYSTEM One-button recovery solution helps rescue data from system crashes or viruses quickly. Powerful hardware-software-based encryption technology provides more secure wired and wireless computing. Click to locate your nearest Business Partner† ThinkPad and ThinkCentre are products of Lenovo. KEY VIEW 3-D TOUR CLICK FOR MORE CLICK TO BUY NOW CLICK FOR FULL RANGE Feature page ThinkCentre® ThinkPad® T43 THINKPAD® NOTEBOOKS 999 $ * Only while stocks last inc GST (RRP) Order Code: 1834T2M 1,849 $ * inc GST (RRP) Order Code: 18586SM 2,049 $ * inc GST (RRP) Order Code: 18586MM ThinkPad® R50e ThinkPad R52 ThinkPad R52 Affordable mobile computing. A great all-rounder and great value. A powerful all-rounder and great value. SYSTEM FEATURES SYSTEM FEATURES SYSTEM FEATURES Intel® Celeron® M Processor 360 (1.4GHz, 400MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache) Windows® XP Home5 256MB DDR SDRAM1 40GB3 Hard Drive 14.1” XGA TFT Display (1024 x 768) CD-ROM 1 Year Limited Warranty 7 Intel® Centrino™ Mobile Technology Intel® Centrino™ Mobile Technology Windows® XP Professional5 512MB DDR2 SDRAM1 40GB3 Hard Drive 15” XGA TFT Display (1024 x 768) CD-RW / DVD-RW Multiburner 1 Year Limited Warranty7 Windows® XP Professional5 512MB DDR2 SDRAM1 60GB3 Hard Drive 15” XGA TFT Display (1024 x 768) CD-RW / DVD-RW Multiburner 1 Year Limited Warranty7 THINKVANTAGE TECHNOLOGIES THINKVANTAGE TECHNOLOGIES THINKVANTAGE TECHNOLOGIES Access Connections Rescue and Recovery Active Protection System Hard Disk Drive Shock Absorber Embedded Security Subsystem Rescue and Recovery Active Protection System Hard Disk Drive Shock Absorber Embedded Security Subsystem Rescue and Recovery Intel® Pentium® M Processor 725a (1.6GHz, 400MHz FSB, 2MB L2 Cache) Intel® PRO/Wireless 802.11a/b/g LAN Connection Intel® Pentium® M Processor 740 (1.7GHz, 533MHz FSB, 2MB L2 Cache) Intel® PRO/Wireless 802.11a/b/g LAN Connection VIEW ENTIRE THINKPAD® RANGE ~ UPGRADE YOUR SYSTEM 1 $ * HOT DOLLAR DEAL ~ 1 $ * ~ HOT DOLLAR DEAL Upgrade your system to include a 15” screen model with a CDRW/DVD-ROM Combo for an additional $200* inc GST (RRP). Total system price $1,199* inc GST (RRP). Choose a deluxe leather carry bag or a 256MB Memory Key for only $1* extra inc GST (RRP). Choose a deluxe leather carry bag or a 256MB Memory Key for only $1* extra inc GST (RRP). Order Code for upgraded system: 1834RVM Carry bag order code: 73P2822 Memory Key order code: 22P9228 Carry bag order code: 73P2822 Memory Key order code: 22P9228 VIEW ENTIRE ACCESSORY RANGE MORE THINKVANTAGE TECHNOLOGIES TO GIVE YOU A BUSINESS ADVANTAGE ACCESS CONNECTIONS ACTIVE PROTECTION SYSTEM INTEGRATED FINGERPRINT READER Switch effortlessly between wired and wireless networks at home, in the office or on the road. Airbag-like technology and motion detectors help prevent hard drive damage from jolts and drops. Give hackers and hard-to-remember passwords the flick. Click to locate your nearest Business Partner† ThinkPad and ThinkCentre are products of Lenovo. KEY VIEW 3-D TOUR CLICK FOR MORE CLICK TO BUY NOW CLICK FOR FULL RANGE Feature page ThinkCentre® ThinkPad® GIVE HACKERS AND HARD-TO-REMEMBER PASSWORDS THE FLICK. 3,049 $ * inc. GST (RRP) Order Code: 18711LM ThinkPad® T43 SYSTEM FEATURES Have security at your fingertips. Literally. Selected ThinkPad notebooks now feature our new biometric fingerprint reader, helping to make access to your work easier for you but mission impossible for thieves. This combined with our embedded security subsystem gives you the most secure wireless PC available. A touch more desktop protection too. Now you can choose a keyboard with built-in fingerprint reader, or a separate USB fingerprint reader to give you more desktop security. Intel® Centrino™ Mobile Technology Intel® Pentium® M Processor 740 (1.7GHz, 533MHz FSB, 2MB L2 Cache) Intel® PRO/Wireless 802.11b/g LAN Connection Windows® XP Professional5 512MB DDR2 SDRAM1 40GB3 Hard Drive 14.1” XGA TFT Display (1024 x 768) CD-RW / DVD-RW Multiburner Integrated Bluetooth 3 Year System / 1 Year Battery Warranty7 THINKVANTAGE® TECHNOLOGIES Integrated Fingerprint Reader Active Protection System Hard Disk Drive Shock Absorber Embedded Security Subsystem Rescue and Recovery 1 $ Click for amazing ThinkPad® survival stories. * ~ HOT DOLLAR DEAL Get a ThinkPad Port Replicator II for only $1 extra inc GST (RRP). Order Code: 74P6733 Click to locate your nearest Business Partner† ThinkPad is a product of Lenovo. Availability: All offers are subject to availability. Lenovo reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time, without notice. Lenovo is not responsible for any typographic or photographic errors. Pricing: *Prices include GST and are available directly from Lenovo during the promotion. Business Partner and reseller prices and offers may vary. Prices are accurate at the time of printing and subject to change at any time. Prices do not include Options unless specified, do not include delivery and are only available until 31/10/05 or while stocks last. †Business Partner is used informally and does not imply a legal partnership. Offers: ~Hot dollar deals and system upgrade offers only available with the purchase of the ThinkCentre and ThinkPad models featured above each specific offer. ^on select models only. # Additional memory shipped separately to system. Customer installation is required. Specifications: 1. For systems without a separate video card, memory supports both system and video. System memory used for video may be up to 128MB, depending on video mode. 3. GB=1,000,000,000 bytes when referring to storage capacity. Accessible capacity is less. Up to 4GB is used in service partition. 5. Delivered with Microsoft Windows XP and a Recovery Partition on the hard disk drive. Recovery CDs are not provided. Some software may vary from its retail version (if any) and may not include user manuals or all program functionality. Software licenses may apply. 6. CD and DVD drive rates are variable and often less than the maximum possible. Warranty: 7. Lenovo will provide full repair with pick-up and return of ThinkPad via courier anywhere in Australia for no additional charge. Excludes software. 8. On-site service is available only for the replacement of select parts. For all other warranty repairs, Lenovo will provide the customer a replacement part for customer installation. The parts for which on-site service is available varies by model, but may include the processor, power supply, heat sink, system board, or base cover. Response times may vary. May exclude some holidays. For on-site labour, Lenovo will attempt to diagnose and resolve the problem remotely before sending a technician. Support unrelated to a warranty issue may be subject to additional charges. Telephone support may be subject to additional charges. Trademarks: The following are trademarks of Lenovo: ThinkPad, the ThinkPad logo, ThinkCentre, the ThinkCentre logo, Rescue and Recovery, Active Protection System, ThinkVision, ThinkVantage. Intel, the Intel logo, Intel Inside, the Intel Inside logo, Intel Centrino, the Intel Centrino logo, Pentium and Celeron are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States, other countries or both. Other company, product and services names may be trademarks or services marks of others. © Lenovo 2005. All rights reserved. LEN0018